FanDuel Group and The Stars Group lead the North American charge at the SBC Awards 2019 with places on the shortlists of the headline operator categories.

The SBC Awards, which take place in the stunning setting of Battersea Evolution in Central London on Tuesday 3 December 2019, were established to recognise excellence in the sports betting and igaming sectors around the world. The nominations for this year’s edition reflect the growing importance of the US market to the industry.

FanDuel Group’s leading position in the post-PASPA repeal US market earns it a place on the shortlist for the prestigious Sportsbook of the Year honour, where it will take on reigning champion bet365 and nine other high-profile international brands.

The New York-headquartered operator, which is a key player in the rapidly-growing New Jersey market and already has a presence in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Indiana and West Virginia, also makes the cut in the Rising Star in Sports Betting category.

Canadian igaming giant The Stars Group makes the shortlist for the marquee online casino category, vying with 2018 winner LeoVegas and a host of other big names for the highly sought after Casino Operator of the Year prize.

Meanwhile, Covers Media Group and Gambling.com Group are both among the contenders for the Sports Affiliate of the Year trophy after launching new content offerings targeted at the developing US sports betting sector.

In the suppliers categories, Las Vegas-headquartered Scientific Games features on the shortlists for no fewer than seven categories, while there are also two nominations for New York-based Inspired Entertainment and one each for Nevada’s Bet.Works and Montreal’s Income Access.

Sue Schneider, SBC’s VP, Growth & Strategy, Americas, said: “It’s fantastic to see North American companies making a splash and that their hard work and expertise have been recognised on the SBC Awards shortlists.

“Being benchmarked against the best in the global industry will show just how much progress they have made while developing their offerings against the backdrop of the fast-changing regulatory landscape in the US.

“I expect to see an even stronger North American presence on next year’s awards shortlists, as more states regulate and new operators enter the market. In fact, we’ve been seeing an overwhelming interest in our Betting on Sports America 2020 event in April, demonstrating the increasing appeal of the US to both domestic and international businesses.”

The SBC Awards ceremony, hosted by Kirsty Gallacher, will see the winners of all 41 categories announced to an audience of more than 700 sports betting and igaming industry professionals.

Betting on Sports America 2020, the largest dedicated sports betting trade show in the US, will take place at Meadowlands Exposition Center, New Jersey on 28-30 April 2020.

Delegates can expect an extensive content programme featuring 200 industry leaders delivering insights into the issues shaping the future of the North American sports betting sector, along with a selection of high-level networking events and an exhibition showcasing the latest innovations from 50 renowned suppliers.